Wheel chair



March 25, 1941. 5 DUCAWCH 236,089

WHEEL CHAIR Filed April 21, 1957 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 I Inventor I l 000a Wc A iiarncys March 25, 1941. s. DUCAVICH WHEEL CHAIR Filed April 21, 1937 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Aiiorneys March 25, 1941. s DUCAVIQH 2,236,089

WHEEL GRAIN [filed April 21, 193 4 Sheets-Sheet .3

QMMQL A iiorneys Patented Mar. 25, 1941 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE WHEEL CHAIR Samuel Ducavich, Chicago, Ill.

'Application April 21, 1937, Serial No. 138,259

3 Claims. v (01. 155--30) My invention relates to improvements inwheel chairs, and particularly-to awh'eel chair having a novel frame including more eiiicient axles for the supporting wheels, and moreeilicient and easily operable means for adjusting the position of the chair backrelative to the seat, and of the leg and foot rests, and an important object of my invention is to provide arrangements of this character which facilitate manufacture, reduce the cost of production, and produce an exceptionally long-life and comfortablewheel chair.

Other important objects of my invention will be apparent from a reading of the following description taken in connection with the drawings, wherein for purposes of illustration I have shown a preferred embodiment of myinventlon.

In. the drawings- Figure l is a general elevational view-of the left hand side of the embodiment showing in dotted lines adjusted positions of the chair back and of a leg rest.

Figure 2 is an elevational view of the front of the chair with the leg rest-indepressed positions.

Figure 3 is a transverse vertical sectional view taken through Figure 1 and looking toward the right.

Figure 4 is a horizontal sectional view taken throughFigure l-andlooking downwardly and showing one of the leg rests in a horizontal adjusted position and the other leg rest in a depressed position. 1

Figure 5 is an elevational view ofa detent.

Referring indetail to the drawings, it is seen that the frame of the wheel chair, which is constructed oi tubularmaterial as distinct from rectangular cross section material or solid material, and is composed ofthe similar side members composed of the lower horizontal elements '5 connected by the transversecrossmember 6 extending between and connected to points intermediate the ends of said elements The rear end of each element 5 has a riser I on a bend 8 from which projects forwardly and in a generally horizontal position an upwardly bowed upper element 9 having a forwardly downturned front end portion iii, merging into the upper end of a. vertical part II The lower end of the part II is downwardly and rearwardly bent at 12 and terminates in the front end of the element 5.

An arm rest l3 of suitablematerial is fastened by securing means M to the top side of an intermediate portion of the .upper element 9. A horizontal rear cross member I 5 extends between and is connected to points intermediate the upper and lower ends of the risers 1. Another horizontal member 16 is similarly secured to and between the front vertical portions l l.

Longitudinal side members I! of the seat frame, which normally occupies a substantially horizontal position, have their front ends pivoted on the bar l6.

ends.

The members I! are pivoted adjacent their rear ends to the side members of the back of the chair, the members I! being spaced and connected by a cross member I9 adjacent their front cross section than the member l9, space and conmeet the front portions of the seat frame side members l1. Straps 22, 22' and 23, Marc arched over the end portions of the larger cross section of channel members 26, 21 and 28, 29 which slidably receive the leg and foot rests, to be hereinafter described, for longitudinal adjustment relative to the seat structure.

The seat back frame of the chair is composed of tubes including the inverted U-shaped member 30 including the depending legs 3! and 32 having shock-absorbing caps 33 and 34, respectively, on their lower ends. At points spaced upwardly from the said lower ends of the legs 3| and 32, flattened rear end portions of the seat frame side members I! are pivotally secured to the said legs.

A rod 31 extends between and through and is connected to the lower portions of the legs 3i and 32 below the pivotal points 35 and 36, the

ends of the rod 37 projecting laterally outwardly beyond the said legs acting as anchors-for the lower ends of corresponding helical springs. and 39. These springs have their upper ends fastened in openings in the upper elements 9 of the sides of the chair, the action of the springs being to permit the seat frame toyieldably pivot on the axis of the bar I6: when the weight of the.

occupant of the chair is placed on. the seat frame.

Depending hooks 43, 4|, respectively, are engage able with the outlying ends of the rod 3'! at the laterally inward sides of the springs 38 and 39. These hooks are formed on the lower ends of levers which have longitudinal slots 42 intermediate their ends and pivotally and slidably..;

engaging corresponding pivots 43, 44 on the upper elements 9 of the side frames of the chair. While the hooks are disengaged-with the ends of the rod 31 with the levers in dependent positions, as

shown in dotted lines in Figure 1 ,of the drawings, the chair back is free toswing relative to theseat frame and the seat frame is free to swing up and down relative to the chair back. However, while the hooks are engaged with the outlying ends of the rod 31, the seat back frame and the seat frame are permitted relative movement only to the extent of the slot 42 in the levers carrying the hooks.

Connected by pivots 45 and '46 to the legs 3| and 32 of the seat back frame are the rear ends Front and rear cross members, of larger .of rearwardly inclined locking plates All and 48 which have the forward part thereof serrated, as indicated by the numerals 49 and 5d, respectively, and formed with a longitudinal slot 5i through which project respective locking bolts 52, 53 which are mounted in the rear part of the side members i l, the bolts being provided at the serrated sides of the members 49 and 5!) with relatively large nuts 52 and 53 which are made in the form of handholds and may be tightened to cause the corresponding adjusting leg to be locked in a position and hold the chair back 30 in a correspondingly adjusted tilted position or in a normal position as may be required. A cross member 54 extends between the lower ends of the legs 3! and 32 of the chair back to brace these legs and to form the lower terminus for the vertical bars 55 of the chair back.

A suitable seat cushion 56 of the proper shape and size is laid across and between and along the seat frame side members ll and the various cross members extending therebetween, and a suitable chair back cushion 5! having clamps 58 engaged with the legs 3i and 32 is laid along the front of the legs 3! and 32 and the bars fi i and 55 of the seat back frame.

Supporting the frame of the chair rollably on a supporting surface are the tired caster wheels 59 which are connected at transversely spaced points on an inverted U-shaped cross member 663 which has the lower ends of its legs connected as indicated by the numerals 6i, or by welding, to rearward portions of the lower longitudinal elements 5 of the frame.

The large hand operated wheels 62 have circular grips 63 at the outer side thereof and these wheels are mounted on the laterally outwardly directed ends on the upwardly projecting legs M and 65 which are connected by a horizontal bight portion 86 of a tubular axle which extends between and beyond the frame side members, the laterally outwardly extending arms on this axle being mounted in bearings 6'1 and 33 on the portions ll of the frame side members.

The leg rests comprise U-shaped horizontal slide portions 55 whose legs slide within the confines of the respective pairs of channels '26, 2? and 28, 29 under the seat frame in a generally horizontal position. The front end portions of the legs of each of the members 69 are connected by a web it from which depends a bracket "H which has spaced vertical side members 72 and Y3 of triangular configuration joined by a trans verse web 7 5 provided with an opening '15 in its lower part, and which acts as a catch for the ratchet teeth on the arcuate catches 7% which are pivotally mounted by means of operating rods 5'! turning in bearings E3 located on the bottom of the leg rest proper W. A handle 88 is provided on the operating rods H for turning these rods to engage and disengage the teeth 8! selectively with the opening '15 in the bracket 7 l. A stop pin 82 is provided on the rear end of each catch to engage the back of the web 14 of the detent bracket H to prevent the catch from becoming separated from the bracket l'l.

, The front ends of the slides 69 have ears in which turn rear tubular members 83 of the leg rest frame which is also U-shaped and has legs 84 and 85 between which extends a cross-member 86 on which the operating rods 17 are mounted by the bearings 78. Additional cross members 81 and 88 extend between the legs 8 and 85 and at their front ends the legs have angle brackets 89 and 0 with pivots El and 92 turning therein, the said pivots extending in laterally opposite directions from a U-shaped member 93 which is specifically a foot rest and has mounted on the top thereof a suitable cushioned Suitable cushions 95 extend across the top of the leg rest frames l9. The frames 93 cooperate with the angle brackets 89 and 90 in such a way that the foot rests may be folded from horizontal to vertical position.

though I have shown and described herein a preferred embodiment of my invention, it is to be definitely understood that I do not desire to limit the application of the invention thereto, and any change or changes may be made in the structure and in the materials and arrangement of parts, within the spirit of the invention and the scope of the subjoined claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A chair of the character described, said chair comprising a frame composed of side members each including a lower element and an upper element with a vertical front element connected between said upper and lower elements, ground engaging wheels on the forepart of said frame, a front cross member extending between said side members and connected to said front elements, a seat frame having its front end pivoted on said front cross member, means connecting the rear end of the seat frame with the upper elements of the side members, a chair back having its lower end pivotally supported. on the rear end of said seat frame, means on said chair back frame for securing thesame in adjusted position, an inverted U-shaped cross member fastened between rear portions of said lower elements of the side members of the frame, and depending ground engaging casters fastened to the bight portion. of said inverted U-shaped cross member.

2. A wheel chair of the character described, said wheel chair comprising a frame composed of side members each including a lower element and an upper element with a vertical front element connected between said upper and lower elements, a front cross member extending between said side members and connected to said upper and lower elements, a seat frame having its front end pivoted on said front cross member, means connecting the rear end of the seat frame with the upper elements of the side members, a

chair back having its lower end pivotally supported on the rear end of said seat frame, means on saidchair back for securing the same in adjusted position, said upper elements including arm rests.

3. A chair of the character described, said chair comprising a support including a pair of laterally spaced members comprising substantially parallel generally horizontal upper elements, a bar connected to and between front end portions of said side members, a seat frame having its forward end pivotally supported on said bar, respective contractile springs stretched between rear end portions of said upper elements and rear end portions of said seat frame and flexibly supporting the rear end of said seat frame, and depend- 7 ing hooks having pivotal and sliding connection with said rear end portions of said upper elements, said hooks being arranged to be engaged with parts of the said rear end portions of the 

